Interchangeable stem-winding-watch movement



(No Model.)

H. ABBOTT. INTEROHANGEABLE STEM WINDING WATCH MOVEMENT.

No. 432,290. v Patented July 15, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ABBOTT, OF NEWVARK, NElV JERSEY.

INTERCHANGEABLE STEM-WINDING-WATCH MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,290, dated July 15, 1890. Application filed January 21, 1889. Serial No. 297,593. (No model.)

winding-watch movements which are adapted.

to be used either in an open-face or a hunting-case.

The object of my invention is toproduce a stem-winding-watch movement which shall conform to the styles now in popular demand, and which shall at the same time be equally well adapted for use either in an open case with the figure XII at the pendant or in a hunting-casewith the figure III at the pendant, the fourth staff carrying the seconds-hand in each case being retained in its usual and proper position on a line drawn across the watch-face and passing through the figure XII point and the center of the face, my said improved stem-winding-watch movement being so constructed as not to limit the free use of properproportioned mainspring-barrel or other parts of the train or of any desired style of stem-winding mechanism.

To this end my invention consists in providing a stem-winding-Watch movement with two sets of plates or frames, one set supporting and having journaled therein or thereon the winding mechanism, the main wheel, spring and barrel, the center wheel, and the third wheel, the other set supporting and having journaled therein or thereon the remainder of the train and the escapement. Said sets of plates or frames are adjustablewith relation to each other in such manner that the fourth pinion of the train may be placed in a line with the stem and center to adapt the movement for use in an open case, and that the fourth pinion may be placed on a line at right angles to the line passing through the stem and center to adapt the movement for use in a hunting-case.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a watch-movement of the style usually denoted full-plate containing my improvement, in which the separable frame E F carrying the fourth wheel, escape-wheel, fork and pallets, and the balance-wheel is placed upon the left side of the third wheel in such position that the pinion of said fourth wheel is on a line at right angles to a line passing an elevation of said separable frame and the parts attached to it.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the different views.

B is the main top plate of the watch-movement.

0 is the barrel-bridge.

G is the balance-cock.

L is the barrel, so called, constituting, as usual, combination of main wheel and confining and retaining surfaces, within which is contained the mainspring.

M is the third wheel.

N is the fourth wheel.

0 is the escape-wheel.-

P is the pallets and fork.

S is the stem.

E is the top plate of the separable frame, and is rigidly united with the bottom plate F of said frame by the usual well-known meanssuch as pillars and screws, for instance, as shown in Fig. 4.

The balance-cock G is secured to the plate E of said separable frame by means of the screw g. The lower plate F of said separable frame is provided with an extension, in which the pinion w of the fourth wheel M is journaled.

The top plate B of the movement is provided with two openings corresponding in general shape with the shape of the plate E of the separable frame. Said openings are located on either side of the pivot-bearing of the third wheel M, and their edges are preferably flanged. The separable frame E F is rigidly secured to the main plate Bin either of said openings by means of screws or otherwise and in such position with relation to the third wheel M that the proper depth of gearing between the pinion n and said third wheel M shall be maintained in either position. The parts must also be so proportion ed or so placed thatlines drawn from center of watch through the two positions which said fourth pinion may occupy shall inclose a segment of ninety degrees. II is a plate corresponding in shape to one of the openings made in the said main plate B for the reception of the separable frame E F, and is used to cover the unoccupied opening in said plate B, and is secured thereto by screws in [5 the same manner as the said frame E The dial of the watch, which it is not thought necessary to illustrate in these drawings, is secured to the movement on the opposite side from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by any of the well-known methods, either by a bezel, which snaps over the edge of the movement, or by being secured with pillars or screws, and is adapted to be placed upon the movement with its opening for the seconds-pivot 2 5 n in either of the positions indicated in Figs.

Any of the well-known styles of stem-winding mechanism may be employed in a watch containing my herein described improve- 0 ment, as the space usually occupied by such stem-winding mechanism is not in any manner abridged or curtailed. The stem, however, will always enter the movement in the same position with reference to the main- 3 5 spring-barrel and the centerand third wheels whether the movement be arranged for use in a hunting or in an open case.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The movement being in the condition indi- 4o cated in Fig. 1 and adapted for use in a hunting-case, it is desired to arrange it for use in an open case. I first let down the inainsprin g. I next detach and remove the separable frame E F. I next remove the cover II and 4 5 secure it in position over the opening in plate B formerly occupied by separable frame E F, and the latter with its attached parts I reinsert through the opening in plate B formerly covered by II, and there secure it 0 in its new position, as shown in Fig. 2. The seconds-pivot n of the fourth wheel will 110w occupy a position on a line drawn through the stem and the center of the watch, and the movement will be in condition for use in an open case. The reverse of the foregoing op eration should be followed in changing the arrangement of movement to adapt it for use in a hunting-case.

It will be apparent to any person skilled in the art of watch-making that my separable frame E F may be, by modifications in its general form, adapted to be applied to the style of watch-movement known as a threequarter plate; also, tothe style of watch known as a bridge-movement.

In describing the structure, operation, and function of the various parts and details of watch-movements in combination with which my improvements are applied and used as aforesaid I have not deemed it necessary to specifically describe every minute part of watch material, nor those parts thereof which are so plainly required in order to render those mentioned by me operative that any person skilled in the art must necessarily understand that the use thereof in the combinations described by me is intended and, in fact, necessary, and I wish, therefore, to be understood in all parts of this specification, including the claims, to intend the mention and use of all ordinary screws, stay-pins, hairsprings, fastenings, pinions, arbors, pivots, jewels, casings, letterin gs, hands, sockets, &c., which are necessarily incident in the manufacture of watches and watclrmovements to the use of those parts which I have specificcally described; nor do I, by anything herein contained, intend to limit my invention in mere matters of form or relative size of parts.

Considered in its broadest aspect my invention consists in the devising and utilizing of two sets of plates or frames for the purpose of enabling stem-windingvatch movements to be interchangeably used in openface and hunting-ease watches, as aforesaid, each of said sets carrying a part of the mechanism of the watch, and so movable and adjustable in relation to each other as to admit of use in either open-face or hunting'case watches without substantially other change than the moving of one of said sets of plates. This broad aspect of my invention is, of course, shown in my present drawings and specification; but I have not claimed it here, because the same has been already broadly claimed in another pending application relating to the same subj ect-matter of invention.

Having thus fully described myinvcntion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stem-winding-watch movement, the combination of two sets of plates or frames, one set supporting and having journaled therein or thereon the winding mechanism, the main Wheel, spring and barrel, the center wheel, and the third wheel, the other set supporting and having journaled therein or thereon the remainder of the train and the escapement, said sets of plates or frames being adjustable with relation to each other in such manner that the fourth pinion of said train may be placed in line with the stem and center of the watch or on a line at right angles to said line, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a stem-winding-watch movement, the combination of two sets of plates or frames,

the first of said sets supporting and having journaled therein or thereon the winding mechanism, the main wheel, spring and barrel, the center wheel, and the third wheel, the other set supporting and having journaled therein or thereon the remainder of the train and the escapement, and the second of said IIO set-s being adapted to be so secured to said first set that the fourth pinion of the watch may occupy a position either at the right or at the left of said third wheel, whereby the Watch may be adapted for use in an open or in a hunting case, substantially as described.

3. In a stem-winding-watchmovement, the main plate B, provided with an opening on either side of the third-wheel bearing, in combination with the separable frame E 1 substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

4:. In a stern-winding-watoh movement, the separable frame E F adapted to have journaled within or upon it the fourth wheel, es-

HENRY ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

DANIEL NAsoN, WM. 0. DICK. 

